Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has announced a reform for the public service, saying the sector continues to overspend by more than K300 million a year.

Addressing the business community in Port Moresby yesterday, O’Neill said: “We are going to have a large reform in the public service structure. Public Service continues to overspend over K300 million a year on maintaining a public service structure in our country.

“This sort of expenditure is unsustainable for Papua New Guinea.
“That is why a large reform package will be set up where it will mean we will streamline some of the departments so that they can perform better with other departments that

are related and, we will want them to be bit more efficient, quality-driven. That would mean we may have to retrench some of our people into sectors where they are needed most.

“We are open to consultation during the reforms.
“Business and government need to work together for better outcomes.

“Our government is proud to have the mandate to continue driving positive change.
“We are grateful for the support given by our people to continue our core policy agenda.
“We are also grateful for the support of the business community for our government.
“We will again be a business-friendly government and consult with all stakeholders.”

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PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill wants to bring back for debate the proposal to reserve 22 seats in Parliament for women.
He told a breakfast meeting with the business community in Port Moresby yesterday that he would bring it up with his coalition partners and Opposition MPs.
The proposal is to have two governors – one male and one female – in each of the 22 provinces. It guarantees at least 22 women in the House.

He said it should not stop women from contesting the other 89 Open seats.
“I’m quite disappointed that there is no woman is in this parliament,” O’Neill said.
“Woman’s representation in parliament has been a subject of discussion for many years. Even the previous government had tried to do some legislative reforms to bring more representation of women into parliament. But those who objected most were women themselves.”A motion to have 22 reserved seats for women in Parliament was defeated in the House in 2014 after intensive lobbying.

But O’Neill said he would discuss the idea again with his coalition partners and Opposition MPs before it could be re-tabled in Parliament.
“I can assure you that I will be discussing this with our coalition partners and see if we can get the reserved seats – bring some women representatives into parliament as appointed members,” he said.

Digicel Foundation chief executive Beatrice Mahuru brought up the issue during yesterday’s breakfast. She asked O’Neill what his government planned to do before the next general election in 2022 to address the lack of female representation in Parliament.
O’Neill said “going forward, we need to have a long-term solution”.
“Just appointing members to reserved seats is not the way to go into the future,” he said.
He said he supported the idea of having one male governor and one female governor “but elected by everyone” in each province. It will mean expanding to a 133-member Parliament.

“I’ve been personally supportive of that option because that immediately gives 22 women to go into parliament,” he said.
“That option does not restrict the women from running in the open seats. They can compete with their male counterparts for the open seats.

“But for the regional seats at least, you can have some fair representations.
“Those are the options we will look at over the course of this term (of parliament). I will prefer a bipartisan approach in this regard. We will start talking with our colleagues on the other side and see how we could go.”

Lae based fashion designer Sarah Haoda, will be Papua New Guinea’s first ever ambassador at an upcoming fashion fest in Europe.

This will be the first time ever that the fashion gurus in this part of the world will get a glimpse of the unique designs Papua New Guinea has to offer in this prestigious and highly competitive business.

Her initial reaction when she received the invitation from the London Pacific Fashion collective was one of nervousness but her faith and confidence in God helped rid of her of this and she is now focused.

“I want to thank my heavenly Father for His Grace is sufficient,” she boldly said.
“I want to extend my appreciation to the organisers for this opportunity of a lifetime,” Ms Todd said.
“I was nervous till a few days ago when I settled on my print theme, combination and colours,” she told the Post-Courier.
When asked on the range she will be show-casing she said and without revealing too much that it would be called ‘Kumul Queen.”
“I prefer to unveil on the runway but I will showcase the magnificent Raggiana Bird of paradise and incorporate the bamboo weave in natural brown, bright red and yellow to represent our national colours.

“I wish to promote our national bird because of its uniqueness, its importance, significance and the pride it brings us as Papua New Guineans.
“Since the theme is climate change I will draw attention to our country as one of the largest pristine tropical rainforests in the world, third to the Amazon and Congo basins,” she added.

Asked what her participation at this event, Ms Todd said it not just a reward but also the opportunity to inspire other young designers in country to follow the path.
She said the doors it will open are many but important for her is that she will be putting PNG on the map especially for the first time in this part of the world.

She extended her thanks and appreciation to everybody who have and undoubtedly will stand by her including her family as she makes this journey to the UK.

The Business Desk of the Post-Courier wishes her the best and God’s Blessings on this journey.

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By ISAAC LIRI
PAPUA New Guinea Kumuls coach Michael Marum says he will consider all top level rugby league players in the Australian National Rugby League, the English Super League and the Q-Cup for spots in his World Cup squad.

With Port Moresby to host three World Cup matches for the first time against Wales (Oct 28), Ireland (Nov 5) and USA (Nov 12), several high profile players have already declared their availability for PNG.

Marum said he had no problem having NRL experienced players such as Cronulla Sharks hooker Segeyaro and Souths Sydney Rabbitohs back Alex Johnston in the Kumuls after the pair came out in the Australian media this month offering to play for PNG.
North Queensland Cowboys hooker/half Ray Thompson, who is set to retire at the end of the year has also put his hand up for a World Cup spot.

“Segeyaro and Johnston are both NRL experienced players. There are both playing in a level higher than the Hunters players and we all know that getting to that level is not easy,” Marum said.

“If there are both available for selection, their inclusion would boost our performance at the World Cup.
“Playing at home doesn’t mean that we will have it easy against Wales, Ireland and the USA because they will bring quality sides with some NRL talent.

“So whoever is fit and available and is playing well at the top level competitions, we will consider them, because we want the best for the country,” Marum said.
Nene Macdonald (St George Illawarra Dragons) and Kato Ottio (Canberra Raiders) are expected to be considered if fit and healthy.

Rod Griffin and Rhyse Martin (Canterbury Bulldogs) who played for PNG in the Pacific test against the Cook Islands earlier this year are also in the running.
Marum said the selectors would also consider players Europe with England-based Mark Mexico, Garry Lo, Jason Tali, Paul Aiton and Jessie Joe Nandye to come under consideration.

The latest player to be eligible to play for PNG is Cowboys squad member and Townsville Blackhawks five-eighth Kyle Laybutt.

Kumul selectors have already begun their task monitoring players to finalise a train-on squad that will be used for selection.
“With 73 days to go before the World Cup we are on track with our preparations making sure all the small things are sorted out for the World Cup, the PM’s 13 and the Tri-Series in Fiji,” Marum added

Meanwhile Marum said the PM’s 13 team for this year in Sept 23 might draw in players from the Digicel Cup to take up spots due to the Hunters focus on the Q-Cup finals.

By ISAAC LIRI
THE Papua New Guinea women’s rugby league team now have a name, the Orchids, which was officially announced yesterday in Port Moresby.
The event saw the PNG Rugby Football League release its 30-member squad for the Women’s Rugby League World Cup which will be staged in Sydney in November.
The women’s national team logo was unveiled while the naming rights sponsor, Oil Search, was formally announced.

PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka said the process that was undertaken by the league to find a new name and brand for the women’s national team was a testament to the importance the league had placed on the women’s game.

He said the name Orchids was reflective of the country’s unique flora and fauna.
Tsaka said he was proud because it was an important first step PNG women’s rugby league was taking and they could now consider themselves a member of the international rugby league community.

Although the PNG women’s team have yet to play a match, they will get that opportunity before the World Cup when the Jillaroos, Australia’s national women’s team, travel up with their Prime Minister’s 13 for the annual fixture at the end of the month.
“The national women’s rugby league has not had a formal name and in fact have yet to play an international match,” Tsaka said.

“The name of the national team was approved by the PNGRFL board in March this year.
“The board decided to find a named that was indigenous to PNG and reflected on the national diversity,” Tsaka said

The PNG Orchids 30-member squad will now going into training for the Prime Minister’s 13 curtain raiser on Sept 23 and then the Women’s World Cup (Nov 16-Dec 2).
2017 Rugby League World Cup chief executive Andrew Hill confirmed that the Jillaroos would play the Orchids as the curtain raiser to the PMs’ 13 fixture at the National Football Stadium.

Orchids naming rights sponsor Oil Search Limited was represented by managing director Peter Botten who said his company which has its roots in the country was proud of being associated with the country’s number one sport as well as being part of the women’s game.
“We are proud to sponsor PNG’s national sport through direct sponsorship and also through the National Football Stadium,” Botten said.

Representing the Papua New Guinea womenfolk during the event Mrs Lynda Babao-O’Neill, wife of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill officially unveiled the PNG Orchids logo.
She congratulated the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League for their efforts in developing and promoting the women’s game.

The Rugby League World Cup (RLWC2017) organising committee has announced that fans would be able to attend World Cup games in Papua New Guinea later this year for just K30.
Ticket prices range from K30 to K120 and go on sale from Aug 24.
During an event held yesterday at the National Football Stadium, RLWC2017 chief executive office Andrew Hill unveiled the ticketing details and kick-off times for the three pool games to be contested in Port Moresby.
“Our priority was to make tickets affordable and accessible to as many fans as possible, particularly families,” Hill explained.
“It was a conscious decision on the part of the organising committee to ensure there was a ticket price to suit everyone and provide an opportunity for fans and families to attend this year’s Rugby League World Cup.
“This year’s tournament is the most anticipated sporting event PNG has hosted and we know there is huge demand for tickets from fans wanting to be part of this history.
“With a capped crowd capacity of 15,000 for each game, we expect tickets to sell quickly when they go on general sale.”
As hosting partner of the RLWC2017, PNG will stage the PNG Kumuls three pool games: PNG v Wales on Saturday Oct 28, at 3pm; PNG v Ireland, on Sunday Nov 5 at 4pm; and PNG v USA, on Sunday Nov 12 at 3pm.
Individual ticket prices for each game:

K30 for seats in the north and south grandstands;

K50 for seats in the eastern grandstand;

K80 for seats in the wings of the western grandstand; and,

K120 for seats in the covered western grandstand

Tickets will go on general sale at 10am on Thurs, Aug 24 via the tournament’s official website: rlwc2017.com or from one of the eight Tiket Mastas outlets in Port Moresby.

Brian Bell – Plaza, Turumu Street, Boroko, (Mon-Sun, 8am – 5pm)

Brian Bell – Home Centre Gordon, (Mon-Sun, 8am – 5pm)

Brian Bell – Vision City, Waigani Drive, NCD (Mon-Sun, 9am – 9pm)

Stop n Shop – Rainbow, (Mon-Sun, 7am – 7pm)

Stop n Shop – Waigani, North Waigani, (Mon-Sun, 8am – 8pm)

Big Rooster – Erima, (Mon-Sun, 8am – 8pm)

Big Rooster – Koki (Mon-Sun, 10am – 8pm)

Cool Stuff – Waterfront Harbour City (Mon-Sun, 9am – 8pm)0

The RLWC2017 will be contested from Oct 27 October to Dec 2 and features 14 nations playing 28 matches in 13 cities across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.